DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND VALUE OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	$ 3,188,391						$ 3,188,391				$ 3,223,220	[1]
Total Assets	54,015,032						54,015,032				52,003,183	[1]
Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	1,454,008						1,454,008				1,293,996	[1]
Total liabilities	48,742,099						48,742,099				47,125,833	[1]
Equity:
Retained earnings	2,516,776						2,516,776				2,456,293	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gain (losses) on investments, net of income tax	1,423,922						1,423,922				1,096,079	[1]
Total Equity	5,272,933	[1]	4,900,919	[1]			5,272,933	[1]			4,877,350	[1]
Total liabilities and shareowner's equity	54,015,032						54,015,032				52,003,183	[1]
Expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	64,150				61,712	[1]	117,837		122,514	[1]
Other operating expenses	120,410				115,852	[1]	240,401		226,875	[1]
Total benefits and expenses	749,974				726,214	[1]	1,510,661		1,431,899	[1]
Income before income tax	117,065				140,161	[1]	258,133		235,503	[1]
Income tax (benefit) expense	35,438				48,557	[1]	80,650		81,780	[1]
Net income	81,627	[1]	95,856	[1]	91,604	[1]	177,483		153,723	[1]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	81,627	[1]	95,856	[1]	91,604	[1]	177,483		153,723	[1]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	64,150				61,712	[1]	117,837		122,514	[1]
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs							(130,571)		(207,611)	[1]
Deferred income tax							(36,558)		57,303	[1]
Other, net							58,767		58,339	[1]
Change to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									184,268
Balances and changes in DAC
Balance, beginning of period			2,195,080				2,195,080		2,095,157		2,095,157
Capitalization of commissions, sales and issue expenses							137,141				355,900
Amortization							(92,225)				(200,128)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses							(25,819)				(55,849)
Balance, end of period	2,214,177						2,214,177				2,195,080
Balances and changes in VOBA
Balance, beginning of period			1,028,140				1,028,140		968,253		968,253
Acquisitions											137,418
Amortization							(32,177)				(66,163)
Change in unrealized gains and losses							(21,749)				(21,907)
Other											10,539
Balance, end of period	974,214						974,214				1,028,140
As originally reported
Assets:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired											4,011,936
Total Assets											52,791,899
Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes											1,573,764
Total liabilities											47,405,601
Equity:
Retained earnings											2,984,466
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gain (losses) on investments, net of income tax											1,076,854
Total Equity											5,386,298
Total liabilities and shareowner's equity											52,791,899
Expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired					75,682				145,621
Other operating expenses					93,448				181,953
Total benefits and expenses					717,780				1,410,084
Income before income tax					148,595				257,318
Income tax (benefit) expense					51,546				89,511
Net income					97,049				167,807
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income					97,049				167,807
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired					75,682				145,621
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs									(247,076)
Deferred income tax									63,123
Other, net									54,793
Change to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities									184,268
ASU No. 2010-26 | Effect of Change
Assets:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired											(788,716)
Total Assets											(788,716)
Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes											(279,768)
Total liabilities											(279,768)
Equity:
Retained earnings											(528,173)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gain (losses) on investments, net of income tax											19,225
Total Equity											(508,948)
Total liabilities and shareowner's equity											(788,716)
Expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired					(13,970)				(23,107)
Other operating expenses					22,404				44,922
Total benefits and expenses					8,434				21,815
Income before income tax					(8,434)				(21,815)
Income tax (benefit) expense					(2,989)				(7,731)
Net income					(5,445)				(14,084)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income					(5,445)				(14,084)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired					(13,970)				(23,107)
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs									39,465
Deferred income tax									(5,820)
Other, net									$ 3,546

[1] Recast from previously reported information